Carrier Operations World Tour - Malta Convoys

SEC 10 - Carrier Operations World Tour - Malta Convoys

 

In 1942, Great Britain was waging a land war against Italian forces in North Africa and their allies, Rommel's Afrika Korps. Malta was a critical component to this campaign, as the island could be used as a base to interdict efforts to resupply Axis forces operating in North Africa.During this stage of the war, Malta was critically short on munitions, food, and fuel for both military operations and civil use. Attempts to run the blockade and resupply Malta proved to be costly and often ended in failure; the two-pronged effort to resupply Malta during June 1942?known as Operations Harpoon (from Gibraltar) and Vigorous (from Alexandria, Egypt)?were unsuccessful, only two merchantmen from Harpoon and none from Vigorous reached Malta, while many others (including the only tanker included in Harpoon) were sunk, and the escorting warships also suffered heavy casualties. Military planners knew Malta would be forced to surrender if fuel, food, and ammunition did not get through before the end of August. The local air commander had warned the planners that there remained only a few weeks' supply of aviation fuel. The Admiralty drew up plans for another convoy to sail at the earliest practical date, mid-August.

The Admiralty started to plan Operation Pedestal in the early weeks of July 1942, and it was soon recognized that this was to be the main effort to relieve Malta, and would employ the largest escort force yet deployed for a single convoy, including two battleships and three aircraft carriers.The supplies were to be carried by fourteen merchant ships, the most important being the SS Ohio, the only large, fast tanker available.

The convoy was attacked fiercely. Three transports reached Malta on 13 August and another on 14 August. Ohio arrived on 15 August, heavily damaged by air attacks, and under tow by destroyers Penn and Ledbury. The rest were sunk. Ohio later broke in two in Valetta Harbour, but not before much of her cargo had been unloaded. An aircraft carrier (Eagle), two cruisers (Cairo and Manchester) and a destroyer (Foresight) were sunk, and there was serious damage to other warships. The Italian losses were two submarines and damage to two cruisers.
This convoy, especially the arrival of the Ohio, was seen as Divine intervention by the people of Malta. The 15th of August is celebrated as the feast of St. Mary's Assumption and many Maltese attributed the entrance of the Ohio into Grand Harbor as answer to their many prayers. It had been agreed by military commanders at the time that if supplies became any lower, they would surrender the islands. [Source: Wikipedia]

 

 

 Tactical Map

Allies (Bishops)

40% of participants
3 x fleets (Two carriers)
Sea Hurricane

Orders:
-Defend the convoy ships

Restrictions:
-None

Axis (Knights)

60% of participants
Ju 88A-4
Ju 87D-3
Bf 109F4

Orders:
-Takeoff from A103, A18, A12 and A4
-Attack and destroy the convoys heading for Malta

Restrictions:
-None

 

Victory Conditions

Victory is calculated by points.

Fighters - 5 pts
Bombers - 10 pts (formation is 30 pts)
Destroyers - 30 pts
Cruisers - 50 pts
Carriers - 80 pts

 

ARENA SETTINGS

Terrain: Italy
Event start, game time: 10:00
Time multiplier: 1.0
Icons: Icons short, 3k
Fuel Multiplier: 1.0
Radar: Axis - Dar bar, Allies - Tower radar
Radar Update Interval: 60 seconds
Radar range: 30000
Killshooter: Off.
Friendly collisions: Off.
Kill messages: Off.
2 lives for every player.
Formations: On

 

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